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Portugal the Man Frontman Pitches Portland To “Esquire” Readers

"You think it’s funny to see that guy dressed like a lumberjack behind the bar, but remember, he did that for you."Portugal. The Man perform at March for Our Lives, Portland, March 24, 2018. (CJ Monserrat)

Apparently, the Portland-based alt-rock band feel like their hometown needs some defending. This week, Esquire published an interview with frontman John Gourley headlined, "Portland Is for the Punk Rock Weirdos. That's Why It's Still Great."

As with most articles that either decry or defend our city, Portlandia and its caricatures are mentioned. "You think it's funny to see that guy dressed like a lumberjack behind the bar, but remember, he did that for you," Gourley says.

Gourley also mentions our plentiful selection of cheap, small concerts and name-checks the Blazers, Pok-Pok and Le Pigeon head chef Gabe Rucker. But for most of the article, the Alaska native writes about Portland as a town of very friendly misfits where, apparently, even altercations lead to friendships: "When things escalate to that level, you realize, 'Oh, wait, we like the same things. This guy likes talking shit, too. Let's be friends!' And yes, that's happened to me multiple times."